Voters in four states β including traditionally liberal Washington and Colorado β passed ballot measures this week banning transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams, marking a significant political shift on the contentious issue.
The measures, which won by decisive margins across all four states, require athletes to compete on teams matching their biological sex rather than gender identity. The policies apply to K-12 schools, colleges, and in some cases, public facilities like locker rooms.
Washington’s Surprising Rejection of Trans Athletes
In deep-blue Washington, Initiative 638 passed with 56.8% support despite the state’s Democratic leanings. The measure prohibits male-born athletes from female school sports teams and requires students to submit documentation from healthcare providers verifying their biological sex. Unlike constitutional amendments, this statutory change could theoretically be reversed by future legislatures.
Colorado’s Dual Transgender Restrictions
Colorado voters approved two related measures: Proposition 134 (52.2%-47.8%) bars transgender athletes from teams inconsistent with their birth sex, while Proposition 135 (52%-48%) prohibits gender-affirming surgeries for minors. The sports measure mandates that schools categorize teams as male, female, or coed based on biological sex.
Arizona and Nebraska Landslide Votes
Arizona’s Proposition 318 passed overwhelmingly (58.9%-41.1%), extending restrictions beyond athletics to include locker rooms and restrooms. Nebraska’s constitutional amendment, Initiative 442, won by the widest margin (67.8%-32.2%), permanently enshrining the ban in the state’s founding document under the “Fairness for Girls” branding.
The results suggest continued public unease with transgender participation in women’s sports, even as other LGBTQ+ issues gain broader acceptance. The measures passed despite Democratic gains in other midterm races and victories by some transgender political candidates.
Source: www.breitbart.com β https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/11/06/voters-in-4-states-including-deep-blue-washington-and-colorado-kick-trans-athletes-out-of-girls-sports/